Final answer:
Housekeeping surfaces under the CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Healthcare Settings-- 2003 refer to environmental surfaces, such as countertops and floors. The correct answer is option c).
Step-by-step explanation:
Under the CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Healthcare Settings-- 2003, housekeeping surfaces include c) Environmental surfaces. These are the surfaces that may not come into direct contact with patients or dental instruments but can still be potential sources of contamination.
Keeping these areas clean and properly disinfected is critical to maintaining a sterile environment and preventing the spread of infection. For example, Marisa's isolation in a separate room with rigorous surface and equipment disinfection practices highlight the importance of environmental surface cleanliness in healthcare settings.
Healthcare workers must follow stringent protocols, such as hand hygiene practices and using a 10% bleach solution for disinfection to ensure these surfaces do not contribute to cross-contamination. A scientific investigation into the presence of bacteria on various surfaces can further underscore.